Mechanism for depositing coins or other objects



Jan. 5 1926.

- v c. BERGER MECHANISM FOR DEPOSITING COINS OR OTHER OBJECTS Filed June9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Raqm Kamq g u ATTORNEY Jan. 5 192 .c. BERGERMECHANISM FOR DEPOSITING" COINS OR OTHER OBJECTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 9-, 1922 4 mm mam M Q .n .w Y n C wi l. wwl.

ATTORNEYS- Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

CHRISTIAN BERGER, OFNEW YORK. N. Y., as'smnoa TO FREDERICK L- sAwYER, orEVANS'IOWN, rumors.

- MECHANISM EoRnErosI'rmG COINS OR OTHER OBJECTS.

Application filed June 9,

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN BERGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism forDepositing Coins or Other Objects,'of which the following is aspecification, reference being hadtherein to the accompany ing drawing.1

This invention is a novel mechanism for depositing coins or otherobjects. In its embodiment, the invention is primarily a toy bank inwhich money is to be deposited, but the features of the invention areavailable for analogous purposes such as the depositing of variousobjects in various sorts of receptacles.

A purpose of the invention is to afford an operable'depositing device bywhich the coin or other object may be thrown, flipped, released orotherwise deposited in the recep tacle in a novel and effective manner.A particular purpose is to bring about the depositing action by controlfrom a distance, for example by wave control, sound waves being hereinshown as a suitable embodiment of the invention. A further purpose is toafford a manufacture of the nature specified which will be interestingor amusing, and therefore, in the case of a toy bank, conducive to thedepositing and saving of money. Other and further objects and advantagesofthe present invention will be' set forth in the hereinafter followingdescription or will be apparent tothose conversant with the subjectmatter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects andvadvantages the presentinvention consists in the novel article of manufacture, hereinillustrated or described, and the novel features of combination,arrangement, operation, design and detail illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment of the inventionFigure 1 is an exterior perspective view of the same as applied to a toybank in which coins are to be deposited.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view showing parts of the acousticdetector means and connections.

1922. Serial No. 567,070.

Figure 3 is'a longitudinal vertical section of the embodiment shownin'Figure '1.

Figure 41s an interior top view of certain details. 7 I I In theparticular embodiment which the drawings illustrate is comprised abase'9 for the housing or walls which include the An end wall 10 isshown and this may be used as a vibratable element coin receptacle.

for the purposes of the acoustic detector to be described. Wood forms asuitable material for this wall, A front wall 11 is shown which may bedecorative to simulate the front of a savings bank building. The thirdand fourth walls may be analogous. The roof may comprise a metallicplate 12, and bolts 13 are shown extending from roof to base for holdingthe entire structure together.

On the interior the housing may be provided with a partition 14 dividingthe space into a coin chamber 15 and a control chamber 16. 'One of thewalls, preferably the top wall is formed with an entrance or aperture 17to admit coins to the interior. A suitable trap 18 is shown below theopening 17, designed to deliver the coins by gravity through a slot 19intothe chamber 15, while making it difficult to extract the coins byinverting the bank.

One of the elements of the present invention is an operable device 20,which may be termed a depositor, for causing the deposit of the coins orother objects in the recep tacle. This may take various forms, beingshown as a flap or swinging plate located in such position that a coinlaid upon the flap will be delivered into the'aperture 17.

The depositor 20 further is arranged so that it may be set in theposition shown in Fig. 1, and restrained or held there until allowed tooperate, swinging into position, shown in Fig. 3. The flap 20 is shownfulcrumed at 21, a spring 22 being the actuating influence to cause thedevice, when released, to swing over and project the coin into thereceptacle. Small projections 23 are indicated on the depositor toassist in properly positioning the coin, C, the latter beingindicated inFigs. '1 and 3.

Different modes might be employed of holding the depositor in setposition. In-

stead of a mechanical hook or trigger, however, I prefer amagnet forrestraining the action. The magnet or restrainer 24 is able to hold theset depositor by a magnetic pull, the depositor being constructed ofiron.

The magnet 24c is not a permanent magnet but is energized by a coil'25 so that it may be readily de-energized as ameans of releasing thedepositor when the latter is to operate.

As a means for causing such release I prefer a wave-operated detector.For example, the impingement ofssound'waves on the wall 10 may causevibrations, which,

- througlrthe detector, will cause the breaking or changing of thecircuit in the magnet coil 25as as to release the depositor. An acousticdetectorv or circuit-controller 26 is shown in the form of a lightpendulum or amulet hanging from. a fulcrum 27 formed on a fulcrum piece28 mounted directly on the wall 10, Thelower edge of the detector 26rests against. a rear contact or wire 29' and a similar front contact30, forming a bridge,- which completes the circuit to be described,butetfectively interrupts the current bythe action of acousticvibration, so.

torhas been set in contact with the magnet, and this arrangement furtherrenders the apparatus more sensitive and reliable.

In the control chamber-16f shown a block-31 seeured to t-l'iepartition.all let. and having mounted on 1t, opposite curved clips 32 forremovably holdinga: cell ofbattery 33- From the batterythe circuit mayextend through a rear battery contact 34-, from which extends a.- wire35 to the reardetector contact 29, before mentioned. The pendulousdetector 26' bridges across from contact a wire 3S to a metallic contact39 pressing against-the front end of the battery cell. This'completesthe circuit.

The operation may be as follows. The operator swings, over the fl'a'pper20, against its spring pressure, to thepositi'on shown in Fig. 1,contacting the'inagnet core. This at once closesthe circuit,thecm'rentflowing in series through the various parts of the circuitincluding the detector or bridge 2 and the magnet coil 25. The strengthof the magnet is sullicient to overcome the spring 22, so that the partsremain set. A coin will be laid upon the depositor, as indicated in Fig.1.

By now causing sound vibrations the imperceptible movement of the wall10, acting upon the detector 26 suspended at its side, operates to breakthe circuit, where the de tector contactsthe wires 29 or 30, oretleetually destroy the'conchlctivity of the circuit, so that the magnetbecomes materially weakened, thus releasing the depositor. The spring 22thereupon operates to throw the depositorover to the Fig. 3 position andthe coin is thereby projected into the opening 17, so that it will fallthrough the trap 18 and slot 19 into the coin chamber 15.

The apparatus canbe operated from a fair distance, from partway acrossan ordinary room, that is, at a point a number of feet from the toy. Asharp exclamation will serve, for example uttering the word cash in aforcible manner; or the clapping-0t the hands, or other sound will servethe purpose.

The acoustic detector is very sensitive. This is because there are twocontact points either of'which may be disturbed with the effect ofbreaking the circuit. is no danger that the contact would be at anodeinthe vibratory wall, which, with a single contact might render itinoperative. Moreover the circuit interrupting eil eet at one contact isreenforced by that at the other, givinga highly sensitive ctl'ect. Thisis much enhanced by the placing of the spring flap and magnet core inseries with the magnet coil, for, with the slightest weakening of thecurrent the armature spring 22 pulls upon the armature or [lap 20,tending to decrease the pressure and conductivity of this part of thecircuit. This further rendersv it substantially impossible that withcessation of sound the magnet can again-resume its full strength andhold the armature or flap against the desired retracting action.

As a means of removing the coins when desired I have shown anarrangement. whereby the lower side of the coin chamber may be opened.The base casting 9 is formed with an opening at T1 of nearly the size ofthe coin chamber and in this opening-restsa bottom plate 42, shownseparately in Fig. 4:. This has a hole at} through which the bolt 13passes, and lugs H by which the plate is held down in place by theupright walls of the apparatus and by the partition 1%. The plate 42 hasa square opening 45 below which is placed a removabledoor or cover 16.At the front end oi' the door, its right end in Fig. 4-, is an oilsetextension t? extending above and to the inner side of the bottom plate-12. At its Thus there 7 lid \ other end the door is provided with anupa few feet or yards.

standing lock device 48 in the shape of a spear-head, with shoulders atboth sides for receiving under them the latch springs 49. These springsconstitute the ends of'a bent wire 50 secured at 51 by bent portions ofthe plate 42. When the door 46 is pressed upward into place the lock'member 48 wedges apart the springs 49 which snap to v gether beneaththe lock device into the position shown in Fig. 4. To open the bank itis only necessary to insert, through a slot or key hole 52, a simple key53, which may then be turned to the dotted line position, which throwsapart the springs 49, to their dotted line positions, thus releasing thelock device 48 and the door 46. is formed with a pair of small flanges54 serving as stops and guards for the springs 49. This door and lockconstruction is simple, inexpensive'and durable.

A modified embodimentof the present in vention would be thesubstitution, for the means of distance control, of a miniature Hertzianwave or wireless system. I have devised .a particular radio systemadapted for this our ose and for various other minor P purposes,including the operation of various toys. The same may be described ascomprising a circuit, WhlCll may be earned more extensively around thecasing of the toy than shown in the embodimentillustrated in thedrawings hereof, the said circuit containingthe same battery, also anelectromagnet by which the release of the depositor is effected, and inreplacement of the acoustic detector a suitable radio receiving device,preferably the well known coherer. In this case I prefer a light latchortrigger to hold the depositor when set, the electromagnet being arrangedto retract the trigger, thus releasing the depositor. The operation maybe readily effected by a suitable spark of small power at a distance ofa bar of sealing wax partly incased in tin foil or the like, so that byfriction, a quantity of electricity can be accumulated, which can bedischarged by bringing the covered end of the bar in proximity to ametal rod or. analogous discharge means. Upon setting the depositor andthen discharging the spark at a distance the action of the coherer is togive a material increase of current, so that the magnet retracts thetriggerand releases thedepositor. I do not herein specifically claim thedescribed radio system apart from its use in the described toy bank orthe like. i

It will thus be seen that I have described a novel mechanism fordepositing coins or other objects embodying the principles and attainingthe purposes of the present invention. Many matters of combination, ar-

rangement, design and detail may be van The plate 42 My plan is toemploy tor arranged to deliver a coin into said entrance, a magneticallyoperated restraining means for holding the depositor when set, and an.acoustic detector operable by sound waves and controlling therestraining means, whereby a suitable sound will bring about theactuation of the depositor, said restraining means comprising anelectro- V magnet operating directly on the depositor as an armature,and acting to hold the same when set until sound waves acting throughthe detector cause the magnet to release the depositor, the magnetcircuit including in series a battery, the detector, the depositor, themagnet core and the magnet coil.-

2. In combination, a casing, a partition dividing its interior into acontrol chamber and a coin chamber, a roof having a coin entrance abovethe coin chamber, a coin trap within said entrance, a spring projectorarranged to hold a coin when set and to project the coin into theentrancewhen released, the'same consisting of a hinged flap mountedcentrally on the roof and comprising iron in its construction, anelectro-magnet in the control chamber, with its core projectingthroughthe roof in position to be contacted by and to hold the projector whenset, a battery in said control chamber, a sound operated circuitcontroller on a wall of said casing, and a circuit including saidcontroller, magnet and battery.

3. In combination, a casing, a roof having a coin entrance, a springprojector arranged to hold a coin when set and to project the coin intothe entrance when released, an electro-magnet in the casing, with itscore projecting through the'roof in position to be'contacted by and tohold the projector when set, a battery, a sound operated circuitcontroller, and a circuit including said controller, magnet and battery.4. In combination, a receptacle for coins or other objects, a depositorfor causing the CHRISTIAN BERGER

